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Monday, January 19, 2026

"Season of Kings" by A. J. Rettger

War is upon the land and the throne sits empty. Who will claim it?

Elbert of Artanzia finds himself in a precarious position. After stealing the throne from his older brother, he finds himself newly crippled and low on friends. The nobles want to undermine him, while the populace wants to depose him. In a desperate attempt to keep his power, he launches a campaign against the barbarian islanders to the north, something that no king has ever done.

In the forest to the south of the capital, lives Anna and her father. While raised in isolation, Anna is taught how to hunt and kill everything that makes its home in the monster-infested forest. However, her quiet life is torn apart when a group of visitors pay her father an unexpected visit. Forced to flee to the capital city, she must find her long-lost aunt, all while fighting to protect herself and socializing with other teenagers for the first time.

Grimm White-Eyes, a legendary barbarian warrior and Shield of the Isles, is accused of murdering the Islander High King's brother. With a price on his head, he must flee his homeland and find refuge on the continent. Yet no ship will risk carrying someone of his notoriety. Unable to leave, he is forced to ally himself with the enemy, in hopes that he can continue to live his life as the gods intended, free.

"Season of Kings" is an epic viking fantasy written by A. J. Rettger.

 

"Song of the Broken: The Sundering" by Easton J. Thomson

Coming Soon! 

Release Date:  February 20, 2026

Just because it’s broken doesn’t mean it can’t be mended.

In the Norse-inspired kingdom of Frostheim, Ivar has witnessed the worst the world has to offer—violence, greed, and betrayal. With his family’s honor destroyed and his newborn sister’s life hanging by a thread, he is consumed by a ruthless determination to keep her safe, no matter the cost. But as his journey pulls him into a web of bloody vengeance and buried secrets, he risks losing not just the fragile peace he clings to, but the humanity he’s fighting to protect.

Across the sea, Baldwin, a bounty hunter with no memory of his past, finds himself in the war-threatened kingdom of Tybalta. Tasked by the king to stop an impending enemy invasion, Baldwin’s mission takes a sinister turn when he discovers a chilling truth—the enemy wages war on the vulnerable, trafficking children to further their agenda. As he delves deeper into the atrocities, Baldwin must confront his own fractured morality, torn between the need to stop the invaders and the sacrifices he must make to save the innocent.

In a powerful story of vengeance, loss, magic, and redemption, Ivar and Baldwin stand against ascendant evil, each forced to confront the darkness where demons wear human faces.

"Song of the Broken: The Sundering" is a dark fantasy / viking fantasy by Easton J. Thomson.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine

Issue Zero of New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine

A brand new sword & sorcery short fiction magazine featuring brand new fiction, articles, interviews, reviews, and original illustrations! Learn more at www.newedgeswordandsorcery.com

Stories include:

  • The Curse of the Horsetail Banner by Dariel R.A. Quiogue
  • The Ember Inside by Remco van Straten & Angeline B. Adams
  • Old Moon Over Irukad by David C. Smith
  • The Beast of the Shadow Gum Trees by T. K. Rex
  • Vapors of Zinai by J.M. Clarke
  • The Grief-Note of Vultures by Bryn Hammond


Articles include: 

  • The Origin of the New Edge by Howard Andrew Jones
  • C.L. Moore and Jirel of Joiry: The First Lady of Sword & Sorcery by Cora Buhlert
  • Sword & Soul - An Interview with Milton Davis
  • The Outsider in Sword & Sorcery by Brian Murphy
  • Gender Performativity in Howard's "Sword Woman" by Nicole Emmelhainz
  • The Obanaax and Other Tales of Heroes and Horrors, a review by Robin Marx
  • What is New Edge Sword & Sorcery? by Oliver Brackenbury 

 


"Demon's Tear" by R.E. Sanders

No prophecies
No destiny
The new heroes of our time shall choose themselves


The Jantakai, the lands of the Twin Swords, are divided. War threatens every border, crime infests countries like a disease, and the gods themselves have faded away. Beneath this turbulent arena an ancient, malicious power begins to wake. The whole world is like dry tinder, waiting for a spark.

Old friends Ellyah and Nastja must rediscover how to trust one another as they navigate the underworld of Anish. Eain is a young soldier of Banahgar, whose dreams of glory turn out to be a nightmare. Driven by necessity, their quests will force them to travel further and through more dangers than they could have imagined.

At the heart of it all, a blood-red ruby gleams, sending out a siren call. A frantic chase begins, those who would possess it unaware of the danger it holds. Glory and riches await the victor, and for the losers the only prize will be death.

Who will claim the Demon’s Tear?
"Demon's Tear" is the first novel in the Jantakai Saga by R. E. Sanders.

Friday, January 09, 2026

Discover Indie Romantasy Authors

The Romantasy / Fantasy Romance section of Arcane Tomes highlights independent fantasy authors whose stories place character relationships at the heart of magical, dangerous, and emotionally charged worlds. Below is a curated selection of romantasy titles currently featured on Arcane Tomes.


Imbued

A dark fantasy romance centered on forbidden magic and moral conflict. When Calla’s latent powers awaken, she becomes entangled with Gray, a magehunter whose duty places him directly in opposition to her existence. The story leans into slow-burn tension, secrecy, and the cost of survival in a world hostile to magic.


That Time I Was Kidnapped by the Fae King

A romantasy built around fae politics and reluctant proximity. The narrative blends captivity, court intrigue, and shifting power dynamics as a human protagonist navigates the dangerous expectations of the fae realm and the ruler who controls her fate.


Fragmented Fates

A fantasy romance driven by destiny, divided loyalties, and emotional fallout. As characters struggle against forces shaping their futures, romance develops under pressure, shaped by betrayal, sacrifice, and difficult choices rather than idealized circumstance.


Chai and Cat Tales

A softer, cozier entry in the romantasy category. This story emphasizes comfort, warmth, and gentle magical elements, pairing low-stakes fantasy with character-focused relationships and a quieter emotional arc.


By Wingéd Chair

A whimsical fantasy romance that blends imaginative worldbuilding with introspective character moments. The romantic elements unfold gradually, rooted in shared experiences and personal growth rather than dramatic spectacle.


Additional Romantasy Titles Featured on Arcane Tomes

The Romantasy section also includes a growing number of indie titles that explore romance through different fantasy lenses, including:

  • Stories involving magical bonds and unintended consequences
  • Character-driven tales that prioritize emotional realism over tropes
  • Fae-centered romances with political and cultural tension
  • Fantasy settings where romance develops alongside survival narratives

Each book listed on Arcane Tomes is independently published and selected to highlight voices outside mainstream fantasy romance pipelines.